And michael r



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. LANCASTER 87M. R. GONLEY. RETORT FURNACE 130 DEOXIDIZING DRE.

1%. 447,779. Patented Mar. 10, 1891,.

WITNESSES INVENTORS ATTORNEY 5 Sheets- Sheet 3.. .J. H. LANCASTER & R. GONLEY.

. (No Model.)

BETORT FURNAGE FOR DEOXIDIZING ORE. 'No. 447,779.

Patented Mar, 10, 1891.

INVENTORS WITNESSES ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. H. LANCASTER & M. R. GONLEY RETORT FURNACE FOR DBOXIDIZING ORE.

N0. 44?;779. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

WITNESSES INVENTORS;

W ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 Shets$heet 5.

J; H. LA'NCASTER & M. R. GONLBY. RETORT FURNACE FOR DEOXID'IZING ORE.

No. 447,779. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTORL MW. y W

ATTORNEY NrrEo STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

JAMES II. LANCASTER, OF NElV YORK, AND MICHAEL R. CONLEY, OF BROOK- LYN, NElV YORK.

RETORT-FURNACE FOR DEOXIDIZING ORE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,779, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed February 24, 1890. Serial No. 341,393. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, J AMEs H. LANCASTER,

consulting engineer, of New York city, county and State of New York, United States of America, and MICHAEL ROBERT CONLEY, en-

gineer, of the city of Brooklyn, Kings county, State of New York, United States of America, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Iron and Steel, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the treatment of iron ores and the manufacture therefrom of iron and steel; and it has for its object the deoxidizing and otherwise purifying and reducing the said iron ore.

It consists in treating the iron ore in horizontal retorts constructed of metal, fire-clay, fire-brick, or other suitable material or metal and formed at the front end with a small door-opening and at the rear end with a large opening, and supported within a'furnace provided at its rear with an auxiliary or supplementary heating-chamber.

It also consists in intermingling with the treated ore hydrocarbon or other suitable gas, or with charcoal or coke, according to circumstances, for its purification. 1

YVhen the ore is ready for removal from the retorts, and which is ascertained by examination through peep-holes,it is transferred or forced through the rear openings of the retorts into the auxiliary heating chamber without its exposure to atmospheric air,which in itself is important, as it gives the ore no 3 5 opportunity of taking up oxygen from the atmosphere after being treated in the retorts.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a furnace embodying 40 our invention.

vertical section embodying a modification. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line :0 00, Fig. 1. Fig. at is a front View of the retort-door. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a retort-furnace embodying a modification. Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detached front elevation of the mouth-pieces of a retort as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on line a: a, Fig. 7.

5 o Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 2 is another longitudinal- Letter A represents the brick-setting of the retort with fire-brick lining. Supported within this brick-setting is placed the retort T, made of metal, fire-clay, or built of fire-brick, 5 5 and made preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 3.

a is the fire-place or furnace adapted to use coal, wood, coke, or gaseous fuel, as circumstances may demand. The retorts are heated thereby to about 71,500" Fahrenheit. The retort T is partially open at the back end, and is provided with a sliding door or mouthpiece M, and at the front of which is constructed a small sliding door P.

r is a tube for admitting purifying-gas into the retort.

O is a pipe for the discharge of impure gases from the retort, and a is a chute for filling the retort with ore, which is provided with a lid or cover. These several communications complete the means of access to the interior of the retort.

The mouth-piece M is provided with a shelfshaped lip S.

To the rear of the brick-setting A is constructed the auxiliary or supplementary heating-chamber A with fire-brick lining. The bottom of this chamber A is provided with outlets or openings A A leading from the interior of the same to the vessel D, resting on truck E, moving on rails F, laid within the passage-way A, formed under the said auxiliary chamber. The outlets A are opened or closed by the gate or plate A made of fireclay and operated by any suitable mechanism placed outside of the said auxiliary chamher. The opening in the back end of the retort leads into the interior of the auxiliary heating-chamber A (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and is 0 opened or closed by the fire-clay gate or plate T operated from the outside of the wall of the said chamber.

The auxiliary chamber A is provided with a sliding-door mouth-piece A and this open- 9 5 ing is chiefiy used when the grappling-shovel is employed for removing the deoxidized ore or sponge to the open-hearth furnace 0 as shown in Fig. 2.

The auxiliary chamber A is heated from the furnace by the products of combustion passing therefrom and through flues A running under and around said chamber and along the side and top thereof and out of the chimney. (Not shown.)

In operation the iron sea-sand granulatec 5 or natural ore, after being finely crushed, is

cleansed or separated by a magnetic iron-ore separator, is brought overthe retorts by the hopper-car 0 which runs on rails laid on the top of the retort-setting A and along the enro tire length of the same. \Vhen the car is directly over the mouth of the chute, (the cap having been previously removed) its contents are discharged into the same, after which the cap is replaced. The retorts are supposed to be heated at this time to and retained at a temperature of about 1,500 Fahrenheit.

Hydrocarbon or other suitable gas is then admitted into the retorts which were shut off combines with the oxygen, phosphorus, sul- 1 phur, and other impurities in the ore and passes off and out of the retort at the outlet pipe or tube 0, from whence it may be led to and under the retort to the furnace and used as a fuel, either with or without other combustible agents. During this purifying pro- 0 cess, which usually requires three to four hours, the ore is occasionally stirred, preferably by hand, by the slicing-bar inserted through the small slide-door opening in the main door of the retorts. hen the stirring takes place, care should be observed not to open the door too wide, for the admission of much atmospheric air would inj uriously affect the efficiency of the process. If solid carbon is used, it may be introduced in the form of 0 granulated charcoal or coke and mixed with the ore previous to charging the retort; but the use of gas, as described, is preferable. Vhen the treatment of the granulated ore has reached the desired stage or point of deoxidation, the flame ceases at the end of the pipe 0. The fire-clay gates or plate T leading to the auxiliary chamber are then raised, which allows the gaseous products to enter and heat the interior of said chamber, and

they pass off through the outlet-pipe at the top. 7 After the said gates are raised the contents of the retorts are discharged into the auxiliary heating-chamber. This is done by inserting a suitable implement through the main or sliding door at the front of the retorts and then pushing the ore under treatment out through the rear opening of the said retorts and into the auxiliary chamber A \Vhile transferring the heated ore from the retorts to the auxiliarychambercare should be taken not to admit much air during the operation. \Vhen the deoxidized ore is transferred to the auxiliary chamber, it is subjected to another change or treatment through being acted upon by and at a different temperature of heat while under the influence of the gaseous products. Thehcated auxiliary chamber yields a kind of oven heat, while theheat produced in the retorts is of a different nature and produces a somewhat different deoxidiz ing efifect, and which makes it possible to convert the deoxidized ore into balls or a spongelike mass, which may be readily removed by tongs, as shown in Fig. 2. Storing and stirringthe deoxidizing and d eoxidized ore within the auxiliary chamber at the changed degree of heat has a tendency to produce a more advantageous chemical change in the ore than was possible to obtain while within the retorts, and thereby a more perfect and complete deoxidation and sponging of the ore is eifected. \Vhemthe deoxidized ore has remained within the auxiliary chamber a sufficient length of time, it is removed to the melting or open-hearth furnace O conveniently placed near athand. \Ve have shown two different means by which this removal of the ore can take place.

In Fig. 1 we show the closed vessel D on the movable truck E, running on rails through a passage-way, underneath the auxiliary chambered. Vheneverthe removalis'to take place, the truck uncovered is run under any one of the outlets of the auxiliary chamber, and the gate of that outlet is opened to permit the deoxidized ore to fall into the said truck or vessel. \Vhen the vessel or truck is full, the cover is closed tightly, then wheeled to the hoisting apparatus, and instantly lifted over and discharged into the meltingfurnace by opening the valve Z which allows the deoxidized ore to run into the molten bath within the furnace.

By Fig. 2 we show another mode of removing the deoxidized ore from the auxiliary chamber. It consists of recessed tongs orthe grappling-shovel V,suspended from theanovable hanger H running on the rail G The grappling-shovel is passed into the-auxiliary chamber through its side opening A, then filled and closed. It is when filled withdrawn and swung around and passed into the side opening 17 of the open-hearth melting-furnace 0 where its contents are deposited, and is then withdrawn. Vith each of these operations care should be taken to quickly close the doors, so as to prevent much air coming into contact with the deoxidizel iron ore. hen the retorts are made entirely of metal, we partially incase them with removable slabs or plates of fire-clay T to preventthem from warping and otherwise becoming damaged.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, wherein a modified form is illustrated, A likewise represents the brick-setting with fire-brick lining. Supported within this brick setting is placed the retortT, made circular and of metal or retort-clay. a is the fire-place or furnace adapted to use coal, coke, wood, or a gaseous fuel, and in which latter case the pipe tis employed. The retort or retorts can thus be heated to and kept at a temperature of about 1,500 Fahrenheit. The retort T is opening which has a suitable cover.

closed at one end and partially open at the other, and the open portion or mouth-piece M is provided with a hinged door containing a small sliding door. 4' is a tube for admitting the purifying-gas into the retort, and C is a tube for the discharge of the impure gases from the retort, anda is a chute for filling the retort with ore and is provided with a lid or cover. These several communications complete the means of access to the interior of the retort. The mouth-piece M is provided with a shelf-shaped lip S with an Directly underneath this lip S is the receiving-chamber 13, secured to the brick-setting A, and is provided with an opening at the top and .over which is placed the air-tight coverv b This receiving-chamber terminates with the spout b at the bottom, and is of sufficientlength to be within range of the movable vessel D, (see Fig. 5,) which is provided with a suitable discharge-valve. Although this vessel is shown resting on a truck E, it can be hoisted up by means of pulley and tackle I, J, K, and H, and moved upon and along the rail G to a point over the depression 70, formed in the roof of the melting-furnace 0 Upon the removal of the cap 1] the contents of the vessel are discharged through valve Z into the molten bath within the open-hearth furnace- G lVhen the retort is required to be cleansed, the door a, is thrown open, and by means of the latch a is held open as long as required. The retorts are filled at opening a and discharged into and through the receiving-chamber B, which said receivingchamber can be surrounded, if desired, by a jacket for heating the contents of same.

' Operation of the modification shown in Fig. 5: 'In operation the granulated or natural ore, after being crushed and then cleansed or separated by a magnetic iron-ore separator, is brought over the retorts by a hopper-car 0 which runs 011 rails laid on the top of the retort-setting A and along the entire length of the same. When the car is over the mouth of the chute, (the cap having been previously removed,) its contents are discharged into the same, after which the cap is replaced. The retort should be heated to and kept at a temperature of about 1,500 Fahrenheit. When mechanical stirrers are used, they should at this stage be set in motion. Hydrocarbon or other suitable gas is then admitted into the retort, which speedily becomes decomposed by the heat and combines with the oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur, and other impurities in the ore, and then passes off and out of the retort at the outlet pipe or tube 0, from whence it may be led to and under the retort to the furnace and used as a fuel. During this done.

opening of the sliding door formed in the retort-door to insert the slicing-bar, care should be taken not to open the door unnecessarily wide, as the admission of much air inj uriously affects the working of the process. The carbon may be introduced in the form of granulated charcoal or coke mixed with the ore previous to charging the retort; but the use of gas, as descrihed,is preferable. The stirring is stopped when the impurities of the retort have ceased to show themselves, which is noticeable by the appearance of the flame at the end of the vent-pipe C or by an examination of samples of the ore. \Vhen the treatment has reached a satisfactory point, the retort mouth-piece door is opened by simply raising it and is held in position by the catch, as described, while the retort is being cleansed. The cap covering the mouth of the receivingchamberB is then raised or removed and the products of the retort are as rapidly as possible transferred into the said receivingchamber and the same instantly closed when the removal is finished. If desired, this chamber B can be heated by surrounding the same with suitable heating apparatus or fines B". The transferring operation must he so conducted that it will expose the purified and deoxidized ore as little as possible to the oxidizing action of the atmosphere. The purified ore within the said chamber B is then run off intothe closed vessel D through spout 6 The vessel D is then hoisted and held above the depression h on the top of the open-hearth furnace C The cap P is then removed. The valve Z of the vessel is now opened and the ore allowed to pour into the molten bath within the said furnace. Afterward the cap is replaced and the vessel removed and replaced upon the track and wheeled again into position for future use.

A gas-producer may he used of any suitable construction-for instance, on the Siemens typeproducing gas from soft coal with the aid of steam. This may be connected to a gas-holder, and from this producer gas is carried by means of piping through the retorts for the purpose of purifying the ore and thence into the retortfurnace to assist combustion. In some cases the gas from this producer is taken direct to the furnace and not passed through the retort.

If desired, the retorts may be constructed of fire-bricks built in any suitable manner,

instead of using retorts made of fire-clay or iron.

Having now described our invention, we will proceed to set forth what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an ore-deoxidizing furnace, the retort T, connected with a rearward auxiliary cham ber A separated from the said retort-chamher by a division wall having an opening opened and closed by the sliding gate T said auxiliary chamber being provided with side and bottom outlets, sliding gates therefor, said retort being also provided with fillingchute A", discharge-pipe 0, front inlet M, all placed Within the bri ck-settin g A, having fireplace a and fines A leading thereunder and around the auxiliary chamber of the retort, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a retort-furnace for deoxidizing ore, the combination, with an auxiliary chamber, of the retorts T provided with filling-chute aiwith cover, the outlet-pipe 0, front inlet M, having shelf-shaped lip S, and a rear opening into the auxiliary chamber, substantially as specified.

3. In a retort-furnace for deoxidizing ore, the combination, with the auxiliary chamber and the retorts open at the rear, of the combustiolrchamber a and the flues A", leading from the" combustion-chamber under and around the auxiliary chamber, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the retort and the auxiliary chamber, of the sliding door between the two, sliding-door mouth-piece A to the auxiliary chamber, and the tines A leading from the combustion-chamber under and around the auxiliary chamber, as set forth.

5. The combination of the retorts open at the rear, the closed auxiliary chamber connected thereto, a combustion chamber for heating the retorts, flues leading from the combustion-chamber under and around the auxiliary chamber, a passage-Way a from the bottom of the auxiliary chamber, a truck beneath the opening, a valve Z controlling the discharge-opening in the bottom of the truck, and a sliding gate a controlling the opening in the bottom of the auxiliarychamber, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing We have hereunto set ourhands this 21st day of February, 1890.

JAMES I1. LANCASTER. MICHAEL R. CONLEY. Witnesses:

FRANKLIN BARRETT, J OHN FANNING. 

